When we initially bought our Instant Pot, we envisioned making some of our favorite slow cooked meat dishes. This included a few dishes that we feel in love with while living in Mexico, such as savory tacos with barbacoa beef.
We also soon discovered that pressure cooking is a great way to make perfect rice dishes, such as Mexican rice and savory soups and slow cooked beans.
Since we found that the Instant Pot was the perfect vehicle for making some of our favorite Mexican dishes, we decided to put together a collection of Mexican inspired recipes. We’ve found some amazing soups, vegan dishes such as jackfruit tacos, rice and bean recipes and a few other palate tempting Mexican creations.
We hope you enjoy our collection of 20+ Instant Pot Mexican Recipes. If you don’t find inspiration here, feel free to browse our site, where we add new recipes specifically for Instant Pot pressure cooking each week. Here’s a sample of a few you might enjoy (including our favorite Instant Pot desserts)
Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef Tacos
At first glance, the word barbacoa might just seem like a translation of “barbecue”. In fact the word does have the same origin, from the Caribbean, as our familiar grilling process. Mexican barbacoa, however, is cooked in a very different style. Instead of meat grilled over an open flame, barbacoa is a slow-cooked/steamed dish. Our Instant Pot barbacoa beef converts a very traditional barbacoa recipe to the Instant Pot with great results! In a very short time you can be gorging on juicy and delicious beef barbacoa tacos.
Instant Pot Chile Colorado
Instant Pot Chile Colorado is seriously delicious! An authentic Mexican recipe made in almost half the time. You’re going to love the rich chile sauce. It’s insanely delicious.
Instant Pot Shredded Mexican Chicken
This tender Mexican chicken is perfect for a large crowd. Frozen chicken can be used if you forgot to thaw your chicken out. Shredded Mexican chicken is perfect for tacos, bowls, burritos, or any dish you like.
Instant Pot Sweet Potato Tortilla Soup
Inspired by the classic Mexican soup, this hearty Instant Pot sweet potato tortilla soup is super fast and easy with a pressure cooker. Top with your favourite toppings such as avocado or sour cream, and crispy corn chips, of course. This tortilla soup recipe is gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan-friendly.
Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas
Ready to make some super flavorful Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas? Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas are the kind of quick and easy make-ahead meal that’s perfect for feeding a crowd. If you’re looking for a frugal meal that you can easily double or triple, these Instant Pot Fajitas are it. Just the thing to make ahead for a family or company picnic, birthday party, Cinco De Mayo fiesta, or a Quinceanera celebration.
Instant Pot Achiote Fish and Shrimp
Our Instant Pot Achiote Fish and Shrimp recipe has classic flavors from Mexico’s Yucatan region: sour orange and achiote, and spiced with oregano, cumin and cinnamon.
Mexican Instant Pot Rice and Beans
Easy Mexican Instant Pot rice and beans makes a delicious and quick vegetarian lunch, dinner, or side dish. Loaded with the bold flavor of salsa and spices, this hearty dish is a delicious addition to taco night. This Mexican Instant Pot rice and beans recipe also would be the perfect base for a burrito or burrito bowl.
Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
A classic Mexican comfort food soup dish! Zesty and flavorful chicken based soup combined with tomatoes, shredded chicken, avocado, cilantro and lime. Light, healthy and very delicious. Perfect for a simple and quick weeknight dinner!
Instant Pot Chicken Posole
I’m often asked What is Posole? Also spelled Pozole, it’s a delicious Mexican stew featuring tender chunks of pork or chicken, zesty tomatillos, and hearty hominy. Making Chicken Posole in the Instant Pot creates a rich and flavorful dish in a fraction of the time it takes to make a traditional stew!
Instant Pot Burritos with Rice and Beef
These fabulous Tex Mex Instant Pot burritos feature tasty, spiced rice, beef and corn filling, grated cheese and fresh cilantro wrapped in a soft tortilla. Grill for a crispy finish, serve right away, or make-ahead for later as they store and freeze well.
Instant Pot Mexican Rice
This easy Instant Pot Spicy Mexican Rice is flavored with with corn, pico de gallo and smokey chipotles in adobo sauce. It makes a delicious and colorful side dish, or can be served all on its own.
Instant Pot Charro Beans
Instant Pot Charro Beans are a great side or even a full meal with cornbread on the side! Have you ever forgotten to soak the beans prior night? Have you ever cooked dried beans in your Instant-Pot? This Instant Pot Charro beans recipe is a great place to start with and get your hands adjusted to the Instant pot! It can be served as a main dish topped with Pico de Gallo and tortilla or Mexican fiesta rice on the side.
Crispy Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
Carnitas are made by braising a tough cut of pork in fat, preferably lard and olive oil, until tender. The process usually takes about three to four hours, and the result is very tender and juicy meat, which is then typically served with chopped cilantro and diced onion, salsa, guacamole, tortillas, and refried beans. Instant Pot Carnitas are tender, crispy, and delicious, made in less than an hour in your electric pressure cooker!
Instant Pot Pork Tamales
Making tamales can be intimidating, but don’t let that stop you from making them. We’ve simplified the process by making them in an instant pot. Wow your friends and family with these savory pork tamales.
Instant Pot Jackfruit Tacos
A vegetarian play on carnitas, these instant pot jackfruit tacos are going to satisfy your weeknight craving for Mexican food.
Instant Pot Refried Beans
Authentic refried bean recipes require soaking dried beans and then cooking the beans with seasonings. Next, they’re fried in a skillet, which breaks them down into a chunky puree. By cooking them in the Instant Pot, you can skip the soaking altogether and cook them until they are super tender. In order to save on dishes, and eliminate the need for extra cooking fat, I recommend pureeing the beans right in the Instant Pot using an immersion blender.
Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos
These Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos are a quick, easy, and delicious meal! It takes only 5 ingredients and under 30 minutes to make flavorful and tender shredded chicken full of Mexican flavor!
Instant Pot Cochinita Pibil
Cochinita Pibil is a traditional Yucatan pork dish that shouldn’t be missed. The meat is flavored with achiote and sour oranges, and slow cooked to perfection. The traditional cooking method is in an underground pit, but it’s also a perfect dish to make in the Instant Pot. It comes out succulent and juicy, and is perfect in tacos or in a fresh bread roll (torta).
Instant Pot Vegan Borracho Beans
Umami ingredients boost the flavor of my Instant Pot Vegan Borracho Beans, and you won’t miss the bacon (I promise)! “Borracho” beans are loosely translated “drunken” beans, and they’re a favorite in Mexico and the Southwest. Chock full of healthy ingredients, these beans are a great side dish or even a main dish with rice or tortillas.
Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup with Pico de Gallo
Chicken Tortilla Soup is one of our very favorite chicken soup recipes. It is rich and satisfying, packed full of flavor, and topped with crunchy and fresh ingredients that make each spoonful just a little bit different.